Attachment for traction-engines.



Patented July I5, |902.y

, D. W. COMES.

ATTACHMENT F08 TRAGTVIUN lENGINES.

(Appliean mea Apr. 1e, 1902.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 704,736, Patented July l5, 1902.

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ATTACHMENT l.FR"TTlN ENGNES.

(Application med Apri 1e, 19:12.)

2 sheets-sneer 2.

am Nadel) 555 /E www y i D. v llllll l UNITED STAT-ES 1 Pari-intr iOrifice.

DANIEL w. ooMBs, on NEDMoRE', WEST vi'RoINIA.

ATTAC H M E NT Fo Bf T aATioN-EN C 'IN es.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 794,736, dated July 15,1902. Application tiled April 16, 1902. -Serial No. 103,185. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL W. GOMBS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Needmore, in` the county of Hardy and State of WestVirginia, have invented a new Vand useful Attachment lfor Tracti'on-Engines,` 'of which the following is a specii'cation.`

This invention relates to certain improve'- mentsin traction-engines,and hasor its principal object to providean improved form of mechanismin the nature of an attachment which may be applied to any'ordina'ryform of traction-engineV and employed for the pur-- pose of assisting inthe movement of the engine over soft road-beds or holes or gullies inthe eld and which may also be used as an auxiliary transmitting'mechanism for furnishing power to a threshing-machine or other mechanismrequiringpower. v

A further object of the invention is to so construct the mechanism andits supportingframe as to permit of a reversal of a number of theelements to permit the attachment of the device to either a right-handor a lefthand engine without any change Whatever in the details ofconstruction or mode of operation.

A still further 'object of the invention is to so construct and arrangevthe mechanism as to place the same wholly under the control of theengineer or attendant, the movable members of the shifting mechanismbeing connected by suitable operating-rods to the rear of the engine.-

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the'novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described,illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed outinthe appended claims. A f f In the drawings, Figure lis a longitudinalsectional elevation of an attachment for traction-engines constructedandarranged in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a frontelevation'of the principal parts of the mechi anism. Figr is a plan Viewof themechanism. Fig. 4; isa perspective View of a detail ofconstruction.. Fig. 5 is asimilar view of an improved form of anchor forholding the end of the hauling-line.

Similar characters 'of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts throughout the several iigures of the drawings.

In the employment of traction-engines for driving and haulingyagricultural machinery an'dsimilar purposes much difficulty isexperienced-intraveling the engine over sandy or soft soil and overuneven ground and in other. places where the Weight of the engine causesit to sink deeply intofthe ground or where the-Wheels cannot getsufficient purchase to move the engine or the threshing or other machineto'whichit is attached. To overcome this diiiculty andto provide theengine with an auxiliary power-transmitting shaft, I provide a mechanismwhich may be secured to the front end of any ordinary form oftraction-engine.

In the drawings, A designates the front end of the boiler of an ordinaryform of traction-engine, and Bthe maindrivi'ng-shaft, to which motionistrans'mitted by the usual engine. 0n this shaft aremounited a belt ory wheel@ anda sprocket-Wheel D. On each side of the boiler are securedhorizontally-disposed bars 10, which may be partially supported bycurved bands 11, bolted to the shell of the boiler and to the bars l0.The bars l0 carry vertically-disposed bars 12, united at their upperends by transversely-disposed bars 13 and 14 and connected by brace-bars15 to the bands 11, so as to form a rigid structure, and near theforward end of each bar 10 is secured a vertical bar 17, connected tothe horizontal bar by a'diagonally-disposed brace 18. LThese barsconstitute Ythe main supporting-t rame of the attachment; but anauxiliary frameA comprising apair of horizontally-'disposedbars 2O vanda cross-bar 2l i's bolted to onesid'e of the main frame in such mannerthat its position may be reversed when necessary to suit the style oftraction-engine to which it is to be applied or, in other words, vtoaccommodate engines having the'driving mechanism on eithertheright-handside or the left-hand side of the boiler. of the auxiliaryframeare secured bybolts 22 to the vertically-disposedbars 12 "and 17,and as the arrangement of these bars is the same on each side of themechanism the auxssi The bars 20 ICO ` 23'for the reception and supportof a horizon- ,pinions 29, before referred to.

tally-disposed shaft 24, the bars being preferably provided withpassages 25, through which lubricant may be supplied to the bearings.The shaft 24 carries a winding-drum 26, having end flanges 27, and tothe end flanges and the shaft are secured gear-Wheels 28, which may beintermeshed with drivingpinions 29, secured to a shaft 30, when it isVdesired to revolve the winding-drum. One end of the shaft 24 extends outunder the auxiliary frame and is supported by a hanger 3l, dependingfrom said auxiliary frame, While on the extreme end of the shaft issecured a worm 32, which may engagea Worm-wheel 33, carried by a shaft34, adapted to bearings on the auxiliary frame. This shaft 34 acts toreciprocate a traverse mechanism for properly guiding the hauling-lineto the Winding-d rum, as more fully described hereinafter.

Near the upper end of the bars 17 is fulcrumed a rectangular frame 35,the oppositeend of which rests on suitable stops-'36, projecting fromthe vertical bar 12. The pivoted frame is provided with blocks 37 forthe support of the shaft 30, which carries the driving- On one end ofthe shaft is secured a sprocket-wheel 38, to which motion is impartedfrom the main driving-sprocket D through the medium of link-belt 39. Theopposite end of the shaft 30 projects out beyond the outer end of theauxiliary frame 2O 'and carries a belt-Wheel 40, to which may beattached a suitable belt to a threshing or other machine requiringpower. Near the outer end of the shaft 30 is a bearing-block 41, carriedby a bar 42, having end sockets tting over the upper ends of standards43, carried by the auxiliary frame 20, there being suitable openings 44arranged at each standard and a similar opening 45 at each end of thebar 42 for the reception of a locking-bolt 46, which may be employed tolock the bar in either elevated or depressed position and in either caseserving to rigidly hold said bar and so support the outer end of theshaft 30.

Extending rearwardly from each bar 12 is a bracket 50, in which arejournaled the opposite ends of a rock-shaft 51, the latter serving tosupport a pair of notched disks 52, arranged one near each end of theshaft. disks are provided With alining notches forming shoulders 53,adapted to engage the rear bar of thepivoted frame 35, and when therock-shaft is turned said shoulders serve to elevate the frame andseparate the teeth of The the gears 28 and 29 or when turned in theopposite direction permit the descent of the frame by gravity tointermesh said gears. To the rock-shaft is secured an arm 55,-from whichextends a connectingrod 56 to any suitable point on the machine withinconvenient reach of the engineer.

57 designates a rod having a horizontal portion guided in suitableopenings in the bar 12 and bracket 50, one of such rods being disposedon each side of the machine. The forward ends of the rod project overthe top of the pivoted frame 35 when the latter is in the depressedposition (shown in Fig. 1) and serve to hold the frame down and keep thegearteeth intermeshed. When the frame is elevated with the gear-Wheelsdisconnected, the rods serve as a support for holding said frames in theelevated position, excessive up- Ward movement of the frame beingprevented by stops 58, carried by the vertical bars 12. After passingrearwardly through the vertical arm of the bracket each of the rods 57is provided With a downwardly and inwardly bent portion 59, adapted toengage in one or other of a pair of locking-slots in the disk 52. Whenthe arm 59 is iny engagement with the lower-most slot 60, the frame 35is in the lowest position, and any rotative movement is prevented by theengagement of the arm and slot, while the movement of the arm into theslot 61 serves to lock the disk against rotative movement when the frame35 is elevated. To provide for the movement of the locking-rods, Iemploy a rock-shaft 60', the opposite ends of which are adapted tosuitable bearings in the opposite side bars 12. Secured to said shaft atpoints just within the bars 12 are a pair of rocker-arms 61', havingsuitable openings for the reception of arms 62, projecting laterallyfrom the rods 57 through suitable slots formed in the inner faces of thebars 12. The arms 6-1 are normally held forward or in the lockingposition by springs 63, having one end connected to the arms and theopposite end connected to the vertical arm of the bracket 50. The rock-shaft 60 is further provided With an arm 65, the upper end of which isconnected by a rod 66 to any suitable operating -lever or handle Withinconvenient reach of the engineer. Y

When the mechanism is in the position illustrated in full lines in thedrawings, the teeth of the gears 2S and 29 are engaged, and power istransmitted to the Winding-drum 26 to eect the Winding of a hauling-line67, the opposite end of which may be secured to a suitable anchorage andthe winding up of the line serving to cause a forward movement of theengine. At this time the locking-rods 57 are in engagement with theupper surface of the frame 35, so that any upward movement of said frameis prevented, while the disks 52 are also held from rotative movement bythe engagement of the arms 59 of the locking-rods in the slots 60. Whenthe engineer IOC) IIO

wishes to disconnect the gear-wheels and employ a shaft 30 and itsbeit-wheel 40 as a means of transmitting power to a separat-e mechanism,such as a threshing or other machine, he first removes the pins 46 fromthe alining opening 44 and 45 of the block-carrying bar 42 on theauxiliary frame. The rods 66 are then pulled toward the rear, moving thelocking-rods out of engagement with both the pivoted frame and the disks52. When the rods are in unlocking position, the rod 56 is pulled to therear, causing an angular movement of the rock-shaft 51 and the disks 52,the shoulders 53 of the latter engaging with and raising the frame 35until the rear end of the latter is at a point above the level of thelocking-rod. The locking-rods are then released and are moved forward bythe springs 63, the forward ends of said rods passing under the frame 35and holding the latter in elevated position, while the arms 59 of saidrods pass into the slots or notches 61 and lock the disks againstfurther rotative movement. The pins 46 are then inserted in the properopenings of the auxiliary-frame standards 43 and bar 42 to form a rigidsupport for the outer end of the shaft 30.

When the winding-drum is being employed to wind up the hauling-line 67,it becomes desirable to employ some means for properly guiding the ropeon the drum and to prevent chafing the line. main frame are secured twotransversely-disposed bars 70, having guiding-grooves in their adjacentfaces for the reception of a substantially rectangular sliding frame 71,to the upper and lower bars of which are secured spindles for thereception of guiding-rollers 72, between which the hauling-line 67 ispassed. One end of the frame 71 is connected by a rod 73 to a crank 74,carried by the shaft 34, and

as saidV shaft is rotated by the worm 32 and worm-wheel 33 the slidereceives a reciprocating movement as the drum revolves. The worm-gearingis so proportioned that the slide 71 will be moved once across the faceof the drum during the time required for the drum to receive onecomplete coil or layer of the line, so that the latter will be woundevenly and regularly, while the rollers 72 serve to prevent any chaiingof the line. Projecting from the upper front end of the main frame are apair of brackets 80, connected to the upper guide-bar by braces 81, thelatter being in turn connected to the vertical bars 12 by braces 82 inorder to make the frame as rigid as possible. In the main frame and inthe brackets 8O are bearings for the support of the reduced end portionsof a pair of horizontallydisposed rollers S3 and a pair ofvertically-disposed rollers 84, the whole presenting anantifriction-surface with some portion of which the hauling-line isalways incontact.

When the usual driving mechanism of the engine is insufficient to propelthe engine when applied in the ordinary way, the haul- To the forwardend of the ing-line is attached to some stationary point, as a tree orother object, and the windingdrum is revolved to wind up the line andcause the forward movement of the engine, and in similar manner theengine may be anchored or blocked up in any suitable manner to preventmovement and the end of the line attached to an agricultural orothermachine which it may be desired to move. When any natural anchorage isnot accessible, I employ the apparatus shown in Fig. 5 to hold the outerend of the line. This apparatus comprises a curved blade 90, preferablyhaving a toothed lower edge, as indicated at 91, and

provided with eyes 92 for the reception of the curved ends 93 of abifurcated frame 94, the opposite end of which is provided with a yoke95, adapted to embrace a post or stake 96, which is driven into theground at a convenient distance from the engine. The stake 96 has one ormore openings for the reception of a pin 97. When the `anchor is to be.employed, the lstake is driven into the ground, and over said stake isplaced a ring 98, secured to one end of the hauling-line. The pin 97visthen inserted in one of the openings at a point above the ring toprevent the latter from sliding off over the top of the stake. The bladeis then placed under the line, and the arms of the frame 94 are insertedin the eyes 92, the line passing through the frame, as shown in Fig. 5.The toothed portion of the blade is. then forced into the ground and theframe bent down until its yoked end is in engagement with the upperportion of the stake, thus forming a brace and support for the stake andpreventing any movement of the latter during the winding of the line. Insome cases the blade 90 may be dispensed with and the pointed ends ofthe arms 93 forced into the ground, although in loose soil it ispreferred to employ the blade, owing to the increased surface area ofthev anchor in contact with the ground. As a convenient means ofcarrying the anchor when not in use I employ a suitable hook 99, carriedby the upper transverse bar 13, and a yoke or guard 100, carried by thebar 14 of the frame.

The attachment is of simple and inexpensive construction and, as beforedescribed, may be readily applied to either a righthanded or left-handedengine by changing the position of the auxiliary frame and the partscarried thereby and reversing the position of the shafts 24 and 30. Theattachment may also be employed on stationary or other engines fortransmission of power or for the purpose of employing the drum andhoisting-line to raise weights or operate a crane or similar mechanism.

While the construction herein described and illustratedv in theaccompanying drawings is the preferred form of the device, it is obviousthat various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor detailsof the IOO IIO

structure may be made Without rdeparting from the spirit or sacrificingany of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. An attachmentfor traction-engines, comprising a supporting'- frame, a pair of shaftscarried thereby, gearing connecting said shafts, a Winding-drum carriedby one of the shafts, a hauling-line connected to said drum, and meansfor moving one of said shafts toward and from the other to connect anddisconnect the gearing.

2. An attachmentfor traction-engines,com prising a supporting-framehaving a movable portion, a shaft carried by the stationary portion ofthe frame, a shaft carried by the movable portion of the frame, aWinding-drum carried by one of said shafts, gearing connecting theshaft, and means for adjusting the movable portion of the frame toconnect and disconnect said gearing.

3. An attachment for traction-engines, comprising a supporting-framehaving a movable portion, a shaft carried by the stationary portion ofthe frame, a shaft carried by the movable portion of the frame, aWinding-drum carried by one of said shafts, gearing connecting theshafts, means for adjusting the movable portion of the frame to connectand disconnect said gearing, and means for locking` said frame in eitherof its two positions.

4f. An attachment for traction-engines, comprising a supporting-frame, apair of shafts carried thereby, a Winding-drum on one of said shafts, apower transmitting Wheel mounted on the second shaft, gearing connectingthe shafts, means for connecting and disconnecting said gearing, ahauling-line connected to the Winding-drum, a line-guide, means forsupporting the same, an-auxiliary shaft, a Worm-wheel mounted thereon, aWorm carried by the drum-shaft and intermeshing with said Worm-Wheel, acrank on the auxiliary shaft, and a rod connecting said crank to theline-guide.

5. An attachment for traction-engines, cornprising a supporting-frame, apair of shafts carried thereby, a Winding-drum on one of said shafts, apowertransmitting Wheel mounted on the second shaft, gearing connectingthe shafts means for connecting and disconnecting said gearing, ahauling-line connected to the windingdrum, a pair oftransversely-disposed bars having guidingslots, a frame guided in saidslots, antifriction-rollers journaled in said frame and serving asguides for the hauling-line, a crankshaft operatively connected to saidframe, and Worm-gearing connecting the crank-shaft to the drum-shaft.

6. An attachment for traction-engines, comprising a supporting-frame, aWindingdrum mounted thereon, means for revolving said drum, ahauling-line connected to the drum, a pair of vertically-disposedantifriction-lollers mounted in front of and at each end of the drum,and a pair of horizontally-disposed antifriction-rollers arranged onlines parallel with the longitudinal yaxis of said drum.

7. An attachment for traction-engines,com prising a supporting-frame, ashaft carried thereby, a drum mounted on said shaft, gear- Wheelssecured to the shaft and drum, a pivoted frame, a shaft carried thereby,pinions mounted on said shaft and adapted to inter-A mesh With thegear-wheels of the drum-shaft, a rock-shaft, notched cams thereonadapted to enga-ge with and move the pivoted frame,

and means for locking said frame in elevated or depressed position.

8. Anattachmentfortractionengines,comprising a supporting-frame, adrum-shaft carried thereby,a Winding-drum and gear-Wheels carried bysaid shaft, a pivoted frame, a shaft carried thereby, pinions carried bysaid shaft and adapted to intermesh With the gear-Wheel, a rock-shaft,means for operating the same, notched disks carried by said shafts foractuating the frame, and means for simultaneously locking the frame anddisks.

9. An attachmentfortractionengines,com prising a stationary and amovable frame, shafts carried by each portion of the frame, aWinding-drum carried by one of said shafts, gearing connecting theshaft, a rock-shaft, notched disks for engaging the movable frame andadjusting the position thereof,and springpressed locking-rods forlocking said frame and disk.

10. An attachment for tractionengines, comprising a stationary frame, apivoted frame carried thereby, shafts carried by each of said frames, aWinding-drum carried by one of said shafts, gearing connecting theshafts, a rock-shaft, notched disks carried by the rock-shaft andadapted to engage with and adjust the position of the pivoted frame,spring-pressed locking-rods for locking the pivoted frame in eitherdepressed or elevated position, the rear ends of said rods having armsfor engagement in notches in said disks.

ll. An attachment for traction -engines, comprising a stationary frame,a pivoted frame carried thereby, shafts carried by each of said frames,a Winding-drum carried by one of said shafts, gearing connecting theshafts, a pair of rock-shafts each having operating-levers, diskscarried by one of said rock-shafts, each of said disks having a pair oflocking-slots and being provided With a notched portion for engagementWith the pivoted frame, a guided locking-rod adapted to engage both thepivoted frame and the slots of the disks, a pair of spring-pressed armscarried by the second rock-shaft, and arms carried by the locking-rodsand connected to said spring-pressed arms.

12. An attachment for traction engines, comprising a mainsupporting-frame having a pair of shafts, a Winding-drum on one of isaidshafts, a power-transmitting Wheel on IOS IIO

the second shaft, a sprocket-wheel mounted l In testimony that I claimthe foregoing as on said secondv shaft and connected to the my own Ihave hereto affixed my signature in driving-engine, and an auxiliaryframe adaptthe presence of two Witnesses.

ed to be secured to either side of the main DANIEL W. COMES. -5 frame,said auxiliary frame having bearings Witnesses:

for the support of the outer ends of said pair JNO. E.V PARKER,

of shafts. v J. H. JOCHUM, JI'.

